prequel
Earlier-set followup work
A prequel is a story set before the events of an existing work—a film, novel, or other narrative that depicts what happened earlier in the timeline: The studio announced a prequel exploring the villain's origin.
The term emerged in the 1970s as the opposite of sequel, which continues a story forward rather than backward.
Three linked creative works
- spin-offDerivative from a parent
- rebootCycle power intentionally
- remakeNew version created
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
installment · chapter · episode · saga · series · cinematic universe · expanded universe · canon
Involuntary past memory
- origin storyAccount of how something began
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
- backstoryCharacter's past narrative
mythology · lore · canon · timeline · continuity · retcon · exposition · narrative
Starting point or source
- beginningInitial stage of something
- genesisPoint of creation
- inceptionFounding moment
- setupHow something is arranged
introduction · foundation · prelude · lead-in · preamble · antecedent · precursor · forerunner
Gradual accumulation over time
- hypeExaggerated promotional fanfare
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- teaserSomething that piques interest
- trailerPromotional film excerpt
speculation · fan theory · expectation · excitement · curiosity · reveal · premiere · release date
Film's written blueprint
- scriptWritten words for performance
- castingShaping through liquid form
- productionMaking or generating something
- directorOne who leads
blockbuster · box office · studio · CGI · special effects · de-aging · recasting · period piece
trilogy
Three linked creative works
adaptation · installment · chapter · episode · saga · series · cinematic universe · expanded universe · canon · tie-in
flashback
Involuntary past memory
- origin storyAccount of how something began
- prologueIntroductory literary section
- foreshadowingHinting at later events
backstory · mythology · lore · canon · timeline · continuity · retcon · exposition · narrative · chronicle
origin
Starting point or source
setup · introduction · foundation · prelude · lead-in · preamble · antecedent · precursor · forerunner · predecessor
buildup
Gradual accumulation over time
- hypeExaggerated promotional fanfare
- announcementPublic declaration of information
- teaserSomething that piques interest
trailer · speculation · fan theory · expectation · excitement · curiosity · reveal · premiere · release date · countdown
screenplay
Film's written blueprint
- scriptWritten words for performance
- castingShaping through liquid form
- productionMaking or generating something
director · blockbuster · box office · studio · CGI · special effects · de-aging · recasting · period piece · set design
- comicscomic books, comic book, comic strip, comic art, comic panel
- book seriestrilogy, duology, tetralogy, pentalogy, saga
- box officebox office, gross, worldwide gross, opening weekend, ticket sales
- franchisesfranchise, Star Wars, franchising, franchises, franchisor
- adaptationsfilm adaptation, film adaptations, movie adaptation, TV adaptation, TV adaptations
- Franchise Mediacinematic universe, expanded universe, extended universe, shared universe, franchise
prequelsequel
Continuation of prior work
follow-up · continuation · successor · epilogue · Part II
prequelsequel
Continuation of prior work
continuation · follow-on · finale · coda
- prequel seriesChronologically earlier spinoff show